Tips for Organizing Closet Space

For many college co-eds, going home for the summer means cramming a school wardrobe with a home wardrobe into a one wardrobe closet.

But, with the new season right around the corner, it is the best time to sort through clothes and clean out your closet. I spent the first week home from college sorting through old clothes. Along the way I laughed through old funny Tshirts I ran across and cringed at some fashion mishaps. Bags of clothes to donate and an organized closet later, I feel much better about picking out an outfit from a selection I am proud of and not one I am shuffling through to find the good stuff.

If you’re finding yourself hiding under a pile of clothes, I’m here to share my top tips for organizing, cleaning and throwing away that wardrobe you’re never going to wear.

 

1. Timely toss

If you haven’t worn an item once in the past year, it’s time to let go. Never hold on to something because you promise yourself it will fit when ten pounds melt off you. Clothes like this often just get pushed farther and farther to the back.

2. Make piles

Make a trash or donate pile and a “try-on” pile. Whatever doesn’t fit, immediately put in the giveaway pile. If it fits and you follow tip number one, hang it back up.

3. Store it

Combining all of my summer and winter clothes can be a struggle with the bulkiness of cold weather attire. In the summer, I take a big box and put all of my sweaters, big sweatshirts and winter accessories in it. I label it, usually as “don’t touch my clothes!”, and throw it in the basement.

4. Swap clothes

Everyone has heard the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” In this case, one girl’s too small of a dress is your skinny friend’s treasure. Swap clothes that don’t fit or you simply don’t like with clothes your friend equally does not like of her own. New wardrobe, no bills!

5. Keep five of everything

Over the years, it may seem like a collection of the same items builds up, just in different colors. If you find yourself fingering through the same shirt but in blue, pink, green and yellow, decide to keep only five. Same goes with jeans and sweatshirts.

6. Donate!

The options for getting rid of your clothes are endless. Goodwill and the Salvation Army are the two big guns for accepting used clothing, but don’t forget about your family members. My little cousins think I am a goddess when I give them clothes I don’t want. We will let them keep thinking that. There is also resale shops where they will PAY YOU for giving away clothes that would otherwise be trash.

Emptying and refilling your closet is a project. It is all about starting fresh, so have fun with it. Call a friend to help a la Sex and the City style and dance your way through tossing the old and ringing in the new. It’s also a great time to combine different pieces to make outfits you may have never thought of before.

 

Do you plan on cleaning out your closet soon? What have you found works best for you?

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

 

 

Guy v. Girl Pretty: Summer Trends

When a guy digs a girl’s style, he’ll often let her know through compliments. But how do we know he’s not just being nice and actually hates it? I talked with four college guys to get the scoop on what’s in and what’s out in their mind. This summer, many items are trending that could make or break an outfit. Read on to see the boys sound off on what makes a classy co-ed’s wardrobe wearable for summer.

 

 

Cross body bags

“If you really need to carry your life with you, the cross-body shoulder bag is probably a very practical way of doing this. You could carry your makeup, keys, wallet, a book, camera, phone, and of course the random assortment of other things any modern day Mary Poppins would need. Yes, I said Mary Poppins. Let’s be honest, even Julie Andrews was sporting this in good fashion in the 1960s classic. Now, you just add a strap and through it across your chest. I personally think the less a woman has to carry with her, the better. It shows confidence and you can stand up straight without killing your back all day with giant purse. Also, please don’t put little dogs in purses this size, or any size. Don’t carry tiny dogs with you ladies. Not sexy.” – Jake, 25

“More commonly known to men as boob separators. Yeah they’re fine.” -Robert, 24

“I don’t know how I feel about these. I like leather ones.” -Michael, 23

 

Floral hair accessories 

“I think flower accessories in girls’ hair can be a risky decision for most girls. There are two problems: picking the right flower and having the facial bone structure to pull it off.” -Jake, 25

“Flowers in your hair look really cute … if you’re nine.” -Orrin, 21

“Desperate for attention. Plus they are ugly and feathers look nicer.” -Robert, 24

“I don’t care for them much, but girls love them for some reason.” -Michael, 23

 

Aviator sunglasses

“Aviators are alright, I guess, if you’re looking to date a NASCAR fan or find yourself picking up pilots. They can work on some girls, yes. The problem here is recognizing your bone structure once again. If you have very defined facial features, don’t wear aviators. Let your features speak for themselves. More men find that attractive.” -Jake, 25

“Everyone looks good wearing aviators.” -Orrin, 21

“They just hide their face because A. they are trying to hide a bruise or B. they have a pimple or something they dont want people to see.” -Robert, 24

“I think they’re played out for the most part but a lot of girls can still wear them tastefully.” -Michael, 23

 

Jean vests 

“Jean vests are retro. Yes, I get it. If I wanted to see them though, I would hop in my Delorean, shoot up to 88 miles per hour and travel back to the late 80s or early 90s. Jean jackets, jean vests, pretty much jean anything says you’ve lost yourself in your parent’s closet for too long to convince yourself that looks good. Keep jeans on your legs where they belong.” -Jake, 25

“Jeans are meant to be worn on the bottom. Not the top.” -Orrin, 21

“They make those? I don’t think I have ever seen them. But I’m a sucker for jean anything so I probably would like it.” -Robert, 24

“I like them. Basically if you wear them, others realize that you have style because there has to be some thought behind a denim vest.” -Michael, 23

 

What do you think of these trends? Does your boyfriend or guy friends like when you wear them? Comment below!

Next week, I will show you what aSociete sent me to try on! 

 

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

 

Top Three Picks for Summer Wedding Dresses

Along with the sunshine, summer break and sun tans often comes a slew of summer weddings. The season of affirming love comes in many different styles. With the summer heat, it can sometimes be a struggle to keep your style a little more chic and a little less sweaty. No matter the type of wedding, it is often hot before the big “I do’s” and especially warm for those who attend weddings outside. To keep your cool while attending a summer wedding, check out my picks for the season. This summer is all about cut-outs, sheer and floral print.

Beach Wedding

The colorful blue floral will pop against any sandy backdrop. Find it in your size at urbanoutfitters.com.

 

Black Tie

Although I wore this dress to a banquet, it’s also perfect for a formal wedding. The all black sheath dress is conservative but sassy with the sheer back. It’s also great to accessorize with.

 

 

Casual

A low-key wedding doesn’t mean your outfit has to be overly laid back. Try on this LC Lauren Conrad dress with a flirty floral print to dance the night away in.

 

Are you attending any summer weddings? What do you have planned to wear? Comment below, lovely ladies!

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

Intern Kitchen: Speedy Chicken Stir-fry

As an intern who is always on-the-go, I prefer my meals that are quick, easy and filling. After getting bored with my grilled chicken salad routine, I decided to spice things up and add a different sort of veggies with my meat choice.

I created my own healthy version of chicken stir-fry with rice. It’s the perfect meal for in between classes as lunch or dinner.  If you’re a lover of Chinese cuisine, check out how to make it below in less than 15 minutes.

 

 

 

You will need:

1 chicken breast

1 c. instant brown rice

bag of frozen stir-fry veggies

salt & pepper

basil

grated parmesan cheese

italian dressing

 

Directions: 

Cook the chicken breast on medium heat. Sprinkle salt, pepper and basil on it while it is cooking. While the chicken is cooking, microwave a bowl of instant brown rice. When the chicken is near being done, pour the bag of stir-fry veggies in the pan and cook it around the chicken. After the chicken is fully cooked, and the veggies are tender, add them to the brown rice. Top with a little bit of italian dressing and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. You’re ready to eat! This meal is also perfect for creating the night before work or a long day at school.

 

What is your favorite on-the-go meal? Check out more of our Intern Kitchen favorites for time-saving and healthy recipes!  

 

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

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Five ‘don’ts’ of first dates

College is all about figuring out what you like in a person and, more importantly, what you don’t like. To determine your liking, it often takes a lot of dating and it all starts with the almighty first date.

I’ve never been a fan of going out on dates. They’re awkward, stereotypical and full of worries. Call me cynical but I’d rather “hangout” as friends until calling it more, than formally going on a date.

Either way, there’s always a few things NOT to do on the first date. Maybe you can save them for the second, or for never. Your call.

After going on what some may call “disaster dates,” I’ve come up with a list of what NOT to do. I can’t promise you’ll always get a second date, but I can promise a pretty good first one!

 

Ladies, please do not …

Wear something that is not like you

Never dress to impress if it looks nothing like you. The person you’re going on the date with asked you out for a reason: because you are you. Don’t come out of the house looking like you got dressed in another person’s closet.

Make things complicated

Going on a first date usually means you are still getting to know the person you’re seeing. Since you have never formally dated before, it’s hard to judge character or how a situation will go. The best advice I have is to just go with the flow. Even if his car runs out of gas on the freeway (this has happened to me).

Be glued to your phone

Being on the phone 24/7 in front of people is rude in general but on a date, it is just wrong. The important conversation you should be having is with your date. If a call or text is important enough to respond to, excuse yourself and come back phone-free.

Expect anything 

The number one way to be let down is to have expectations. Don’t go into a date thinking it will go great or by anticipating every little move. Most likely it will be nothing like you expected and that’s not always a bad thing.

Worry about the date afterward

A date will either go great or it won’t and you will know which it was. Don’t waste time after thinking “Did I do say that right?” or “Does he like me?” because the date was what it was and you can’t go back and change it. After all, this is part of the learning process of finding out what you want!

 

I’ve been on dates where I had allergic reactions to food; dates where the guy is a total tool; and dates where the waiter spilled water all over my pants. But I got through them by what I made out of it and learned a few things (don’t try new food, you live and you learn, and NEVER wear white pants).

Therefore, even if your date goes terribly wrong even after you made sure you didn’t mess it up, it will always be a learning experience.

 

What is your advice for going on a first date? Have you ever done any of these “don’ts” and regretted it? 

Going on a date? Check out this super cute Lauren Conrad outfit for the big day!

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

 

 

 

Six Tips For a Balanced Lifestyle

Balancing work, school, internships and just life in general can become a struggle especially when it’s all winding down to finals week.  With only three or four weeks left in the school semester, it is what some people call “crunch time.” Right now is the time to end on a good note with all things you are involved in.

As a student who took on a campus job, a reporting position, an internship and four classes all at the same time, I can speak from experience that it is chaotic. Long days turned into long nights and there was nothing I could do about it but keep working. Not only did it take a toll on my sleeping habits, I officially became burned out.

But throughout the past two semesters of juggling all of those responsibilities, I learned a few tricks of the trade to keep going when all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and hide from everything.

1.) Make your agenda your best friend

Buying a planner sounds like a standard plan of action for organizing your life, but you have to actually use it. Keep your organizer organized by ranking most important events or tasks by importance with different highlighter colors.

2.) Block out hours for working

Balancing more than one responsibility can get confusing. Writing for two different publications and writing for classes made deadlines for me extremely important. The best way I balanced this was to put everything in order of what had to be done and basically “schedule” times I would sit down and do it.

3.) Buy a smart phone

It may be out of your budget, but it is the best investment for a busy college student. Being able to merge my school and work emails into the same group and accessing the internet at any moment has definitely increased my productivity. It may not necessarily help you “balance” life but it does make it easier.

4.) Ask for help

When life gets chaotic, don’t be shy to let your friends step in. It’s okay to say you need help or can’t do something.  Especially when you need advice, friends or parents can give you an outside view on your chaotic life. Remember: “It’s okay to not be okay.”

5.) Don’t sweat the small stuff

Taking on more duties means there’s that much more to possibly mess up. Don’t worry about every little mistake or problem that doesn’t REALLY matter.  Mistakes will happen and usually they will help you improve in all areas of life.

6.) Schedule time for fun

Remember that life shouldn’t always be about working. Take time to enjoy your college days and go to fun events with friends. One of my favorite quotes to live by: “Taking time to live your life will only inspire your work.”

Some more of my inspirational “keep on moving” quotes:

“Worrying will never change the outcome.”

“Eventually everything falls into place. Until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moment and know that everything happens for a reason.”

“Don’t make a bad day make you feel like you have a bad life.”

“Everything in life is temporary. So if things are going good, enjoy them while they last. If things are going bad, don’t worry. It can’t last forever either.”

College Lifestyles has created a board full of inspirational quotes on Pinterest for when you’re feeling stressed or sad. I even printed out some
of my favorite quotes and photos and have them on my bedroom wall for whenever I need to turn to something for reassurance.

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

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Intern Closet: Spring Style

Since the weather in Michigan has reached temperatures warm enough to bare legs, spring skirts have been filing into my closet. I bought my first maxi skirt this spring and now I can’t stop buying them. Three maxis hang in my closet now and I plan on buying more because of their versatility. They go with anything and still look like you put some effort into your outfit. I consider them the leggings of warm weather.

For Easter Sunday, I wore what  I call the “mullet” form of the classic maxi. The hi-low skirt is shorter in the front and goes long in the back. The skirt give you the breathability that jeans just don’t in the warmer temperatures and gives off a  ”classy” vibe.

I paired my coral colored skirt with a button up white blouse to contrast the bright color with something more neutral. Then I accessorized with a pastel colored necklace, a rose gold watch, a couple of my favorite bracelets and brown leather flip flops.

Take a look at the final outcome!

Both my top and skirt are from Kohl’s. The skirt is from the LC Lauren Conrad collection and the blouse is by Apt. 9.

 I wear this Forever 21 necklace with everything. Although it is a blueish color, I like to pair it with coral, peach, gold and even magenta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My rose gold watch is always on my wrist. If it’s not, I usually feel naked without it and I will be late to everything. I put on a couple bracelets I’ve had for years to give my outfit a more casual look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hear a lot of people say that they don’t wear maxi skirts because they don’t think they can pull them off. I was once like that until I realized they are universally flattering.  At any height, they make a person look taller. This trend is hot right now and perfect for mild temperatures, so don’t be afraid to go for it with confidence!

Be sure to also check out CL Intern Shanae’s Top Five Spring Nail Color Trends to finish off your outfit for Spring!

 

 

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

 

CL Exclusive: Meet aSociete Co-Founder Vanessa Gabriel

Everybody loves a good fashion deal. University of the Pacific student Vanessa Gabriel’s business revolves around them. The 19-year-old entrepreneur started a website call aSociete where college students can shop and not feel guilty.

“With everything rising, such as tuition, gas, living, textbooks, etc., at the end of the day students have less money to spend on themselves,” Gabriel said. “aSociete is by college students for college students and we just want to help our peers around the nation save money and look good.”

Gabriel’s ambition to find brand name clothing at a low price is what encouraged her to create the site. Take a peek into her life as she explains the in and outs of being an entrepreneur before even graduating college.

CL: How does aSociete work?

VG: Liz Zepeda and Jarrett Mattson who are my buyers for the men’s and women’s fashion merchandise departments  establish personal relationships with brands working together to create exclusive sales for aSociete. They travel several times throughout the year to meet with brand representatives personally and create unique relationships with each. They also attend several fashion trade shows to meet with brands and coordinate future aSociete sales such as famous Magic in Las Vegas, Agenda in Huntington Beach, and LA Fashion Market. A lot of these brands love that we cater exclusively to college students and want to expose their brand to our market. Every sale that’s curated is put together specially for aSociete.

CL: How would you describe your own personal style? How do you use aSociete to style your wardrobe?

VG: I’ve grown so much in my style since I started college! My style secret is my 15-year-old sister who is such a fashionista and I always look to her for advice. She is definitely ahead of her time and stays up to date on all the trends. I love aSociete because I’ve always been a conscious shopper ever since I was little; learning to bargain shop and make my money last so being able to have access to these amazing brands at great prices is like heaven for me.

CL: How successful have you been with the site?

VG: The success has been awesome! Since our launch in late October of last, we’ve seen how aSociete has grown organically viral. It’s been truly amazing to see through social media and the internet how students arespreading the word about aSociete. We’ve even been lucky to have so much support on some of our social media platforms such as over 11,000+ likes on our Facebook Fan page and over 4,000+ Twitter followers. It’s really fun to see how students truly love the site and what we’re doing. With over 4,000+ orders sent out around the nation from places such as the East Coast or even Midwest it’s awesome to see that students love what we’re doing.

CL: You may be a MTV reality show star soon?

VG: We’re one of the finalists in the running for a new MTV reality series about young entrepreneurs in America with special mentorshipfrom PR guru Kelly Cutrone. It’s been super exciting and we’ve been in communication with the producers so far while the show is still in development. This opportunity has been really exciting for us because we know the potential it has to reach college students around the nation and let them know about aSociete!

CL: How do you utilize social media to gain attention?

VG: With social media being the most populated websites by college students it is marketing that we really use to our advantage. With so many different platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Vimeo etc. we try and connect with students every which way possible. Through each we try to offer something different so each audience feels like they can relate and connect with us as people and not just as a company.

Our favorite social media currently is connecting with other students through our videos. Not only are they fun to make and our video editor is amazing (he went on tour with Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston!) but we feel like students can relate to us on a deeper level and see for themselves that we’re college students just like them.

CL: How do you balance school and work?

VG: After hours spent adding, dropping, and researching potential classes to take I was able to work out a two day a week school schedule which leaves me three days to work on aSociete and not to mention a four day weekend. School and aSociete are very important to me and I try and prioritize my time to each. With school I try and stay ahead on homework and reading so on my off days I can solely focus all my attention on aSociete. The days I do attend school I’ll stay late in the library to get ahead on future homework/assignments for the following week so I never fall behind.

CL: Advice for college students looking to start something similar or branching out into the fashion industry?

VG: My #1 tip of advice is that always remember that there is no age requirement for success. I believe there is still a stigma around being young and inexperienced that people automatically rule you out thinking you can’t be successful. With having no business experience but an idea I immersed myself in the fashion industry and the people embraced my passion, ambition and eagerness to learn as much as I could from them.  I was relentless and didn’t let anything stop me from making aSociete a reality.

 ”Never did I expect to be running a full-fledged business with some of my best friends and really making an impact among my generation,” Gabriel said. “Everyday is really a blessing and I hope our story can be of inspiration to other college students or young people to know that anything is possible.” 

aSociete is offering an exclusive offer to College Lifestyles readers! For 20% off your first order, use the discount code: CL20 during checkout! 

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

Apartment Living Pros and Cons

Housing options for the college lifestyle are sometimes endless. But when it comes down to living in a dorm or apartment, the choice can be hard to make. While some people cannot wait to exert their freedom in a larger space, others enjoy the close quarters of a dorm room. With spring time upon us, housing questions may be present as well.

I spent my freshman year in the dorms and now I live in an apartment off-campus. Although both had their pros/cons, the pros list for living in an apartment was much longer for me.

If you’re planning where to live in the summer or in the fall, now is the time to decide! An apartment comes with some perks and some disadvantages. Use this list of each to help curb your choice to the right doorstep.

PROS

More space

Compared to a dorm room, everything in an apartment is bigger. Not to mention you can usually have your own bedroom and maybe even your own bathroom.

You can bring the pooch

Many apartment complexes on college campuses allow four-legged roommates. Some require a fee for housing a pet so make sure to double check before you move in with a furry friend.

No rules or “parent figure”

Living in an apartment allows for more freedom and independence. There is no one to tell you what to do, make you go to hall meetings or sign waivers with specific rules. It’s your running ground and it’s what you make of it.

Cheaper

Depending on the quality of the apartment, many are cheaper than dormitories. But adding on the extra cost of electricity, gas and groceries may just equal out the expenses.

 

CONS

No meal plan

The one thing I miss about living in the dorms is the meal plan. I loved being able to have a “home-cooked” meal at any hour of the day in the cafeteria. Living in an apartment means going on cereal and pasta binges, unless you love to cook.

Driving to campus

Since apartments aren’t a part of many colleges’ residence life, they are often off-campus. Driving the same route daily and sometimes up to three times a day can get a little boring and bothersome. Therefore it is probably smart to find an apartment close to campus where you can walk or ride a bike, especially with gas prices on the steady rise.

Paying more bills

Rent, gas, cable and electricity bills may make you feel like an adult, but they’re not one of the perks of getting older. Living outside of the dorms requires a bill for everything, so be prepared to have extra cash to pitch in monthly.

More space = more cleaning

Although living in a larger place is nice, it also means you have to clean more than a 10 x 10 square room. Doing dishes is definitely the hardest chore for apartment livers to agree on.

Harder to be active on campus

Making friends in the dorms was easy. Off campus- not so much. Living off campus or in a place where campus activities aren’t constantly announced on the hallways may make you miss out on some events and some great friendships.

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

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Top Five Spring Must Haves

Summer weather has come early in Michigan leaving students scrounging for the latest spring trends. Although it feels like we have skipped over spring and jumped right into summer, these trends are versatile for both seasons. If you’re heading out to stock your wardrobe for the warmer conditions, be sure to buy something bright. This season is all about experimenting with colors and patterns and being unique with the transition to hotter temperatures.

 

1) Floral print

The classic pattern can now be seen on every type of clothing or accessory. These floral print shorts from Target don’t overkill the trend and add a girly touch to classic denim.

 

 

2) Bright colored bottoms

Take an outfit from boring to bright by dressing up in colorful bottoms. From skinny jeans  to short shorts, any bright summer colors makes this a fashion do.

 

3) Maxi skirts

I bought this skirt last week when the temperature sky-rocketed over night. I love the versatility of it making it comfy and classy for work and class.

 

4) Lace/crochet

Although this 70s inspired trend carried over from fall and winter,  it is still going to be a summer hit.  Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 are two hot spots that carry this spring trend in many colors and styles.

 

5) Canvas shoes

Lightweight and comfortable, these  canvas shoes are perfect for walking around campus all day. The bright colors that Forever 21 sell make them an eye-catching part of any outfit.

 

 

What are your must haves for this season?  Check out the College Lifestyles Pinterest Boards for more fashion ideas!

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

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